And someone pipped you to the post, despite constant warnings from your editor. Boo hoo.

"Rex and City" - my god how trite. I think we all dodged a bullet here.

Marley ... If you have not heard of this book, perhaps you have been hiding in a cave in Afghanistan

Or Australia. What is it with salon writers that they are so intensely parochial ? There are cities outside of LA/SF, 1st world countries other than the US.

my dog was much worse than Marley. Much, much worse. Marley tipped over trash cans. My dog killed sentient beings -- birds, amphibians and mammals

You know nothing of dogs do you ? most dogs given the opportunity will happily chow down on small furry creatures.

I didn't. John Grogan did. End of story.

Not even start of story, but that doesn't seem to slow down salons stable of self absorbed weenies.

One good thing out of this - you adopted a abused dog and persevered, kudos, good for you. You're a better person than most (and I'm not being sarcastic - special place in heaven for animal rescuers).

Keep up with looking after animals, skip the salon essays.

My boyfriend won't make my decision for me so that I can blame him for it ! What am I to do ! Take responsibility for myself ? the horror !

p.s No wine does not equal dry. Snob.

Let the big guy in !

Actually he looks pretty happy - good well fenced yard too.

The BF *doesn't* want her to make a huge sacrife for him - quite the opposite and thats what she's bitching about. He is saying "Go - I don't want you to resent me". She wants him to say "Stay for me !". Very passive aggressive.

I know it impossible for broadsheet to avoid the "women as courageous victims" meme, but could you try *reading* the articles you link to ?

She wasn't sacked. Reporter Nina rejoined the police to film a documentary. She then left of her own accord. Presumably to continue her actual job as a reporter.

Additionally the Chief Constable public ally apologised for the behaviour and pledged to investigate - but you won't mention that will you.

I presume you will print a correction and apology for this .

I'm a sucker for animal stories. I just wish Lee hadn't named it "Rex in the City" - its unbearably twee.

I thought her salon essay was redundant and unnecessary, also curiously hinting at details - whats the deal with her boyfriend/husband ? either flesh that part out or cut it altogether.

The book could be brilliant of course, but no way to tell from this.

Marley is a Lab ... sheese any big dog in an apartment is trouble unless you can walk them several times a day. I note that Rex looked like a large dog too.

You just despise me ! heavens I'm just devastated ! whatever will I do

talented, creative writers that appear in Salon

And you're a comedian as well ! very funny ! Of course you've noted that most of the article "writers" on salon have the literary version of diarrhoea - endless outbursts of banal self-indulgent parochial drivel.

Since you've consistently tried to reframe the discussion to avoid awkward questions, place meanings into my words which were never there (you'd be a natural for Bush's press secretary) etc I'm going to save my energy for meaningful debate with honest people - in the words of 90% of the other posters on salon, just STFU.

Broadsheet by its nature is always woman vs men. I miss the days when salon was about people rather than groups.

I didn't find the article ambigous - it was quite clear to me. It certainly made no mention of "sacking"

You reference the Sunday Mirror - thats like referencing fox news on clinton - seriously. They're one of the page three tabloids (Nude pics on page three). They will sensationalise *anything*

I don't doubt there were problems at the station and but we see no evidence that she attempted to confront them or take it up with her superiors. Instead she quit, then returned to make money off it.

Its easy for people to slag police until they find they need them. My wife had the misfortune to be seriosly assaulted and the police were fantastic - caring professional and have followed up over the course of several years to see how she's doing.

Police see a lot of nasty shit which most poeple just don't want to know about.

Late here, keep forgetting points - one more and I'm off

Why do I feel defensive - because its typical broadsheet. Traister is so stuck in the women victim mentality that pervades BS that she makes up a completly false statement:

An 11-year veteran of the Leicestershire Constabulary in the U.K. has been sacked (as they say) for secretly filming her colleagues

Its just not in the article - it says something completly different:

Ms Hobson, who is now unemployed after leaving the force

Its farcical.

Sounds good and I'm a sucker for those stories (Anyone read "The cat who came for christmas" ?)

Searched for "Rex and the city" but they didn't have it.

Feel like I was a bit harsh on the author, her hearts in the right place. But the article itself seemed pointless and I'd just come from Broadsheet, which always winds me up.

Pet rescue is the best but I must admit I'm a sucker for one particular dog breed (Cavaliers). Unfortunately even when focusing on just one breed for rescue there's still way to many dogs passing through our local CKCS rescue.

If salon highlighted the problems men face, which are many and deep - and *NOT* through the auspices of BS, thats a recipe for patronising, condecending brushoffs.

Salon is so incredibaly one sided with regards to gender - its all about womens problems and mens fault. Nothing on the issues facing men. Nothing.

It didn't use to be this way on Salon - it was inclusive, we had dialogue and analysis. Now we have BS and "Cheeky Pink Attitude !"